Jason Mezey

Founder and Owner at Routes Outfitter.

Originally from the Denver area, he grew up riding and tinkering with bikes. A young master at disassembling and reassembling…just to discover how it all worked. He dove into skiing for his first time at age 8 and then on to snowboarding primarily in high school and from then on.

Later after high school, he spent some time working at a well known ski shop in southeast Denver (A side-gig to his punk band dreams. Lost dreams eventually). Learning the skills…sort of paying the bills…he pressed on from shop-life into the “real world” of construction work.

Married in 1999 to Kristin Mezey…and living the adventure ever since. 4 awesome kids (ridiculously athletic) deepen that adventure every day. The Mezey family spends much of their time together out and about in the youth sports world - from soccer to swimming to DH racing.

Besides serving as the head mechanic and general manager for Routes, he also spends quite a bit of time in the non-profit world serving in a position at Young Life - a global youth focused organization dedicated to being in relationship with young people, loving them deeply, and introducing them to Jesus.

He’s built a house for his family (for real!), spent 8+ years in construction, over 15 years working for 2 major global nonprofits, finished an Ironman 70.3 and many other century rides, running events, and mountainous adventures, and spends thousands of hours as his kids’ primary cheerleader.

He most of all loves being part of the community of outdoorists in Colorado Springs and beyond, and believes that the outdoorist mindset is one of community, compassion, conservation, and wellness at its core. An outsider of sorts from the norms of popular culture. A ROutsider.

Routes Outfitter has been a passion business since day one, and he hopes it continues to grow as an influential and impactful business in the outdoor industry. It’s about kindness in the end…and insanely cool gear and equipment to help move everyone to be outside and well.

Race Organizing - A Labor Of Love

Throughout the ROutsider blogs, we’ve continued to share many stories of folks enjoying the trails of Colorado Springs and throughout Colorado - which often include participation in bike or run races. We’re excited to share the story of someone behind the scenes now, who put together a race here in the heart of Colorado Springs this last summer!

Drew, with his Pulpit Primer hats and other race swag.

Drew Vidano, a friend of Routes and regular participant of The Trailblazers Bike, Run, and Hike Group, organized in the summer of 2022 the inaugural - and maybe final - Pulpit Primer 10K at Pulpit Rock Open Space.

Drew is from Monument, CO and graduated from Western Washington University in 2020. He studied marketing and entrepreneurship and also ran for the cross country team.

Drew currently works as a rep for Adidas Terrex & Five Ten, but he and a high school buddy, James, also have a business named ‘Berziege’ - German for ‘mountain goat’. They started the company with the mission of building the community of trail running and progressing the sport through unique, local races. Pulpit Rock Open Space was specifically chosen for this 10K because few people around town know of its beautiful trails or the adjoining Austin Bluffs Open Space.

Drew and James immediately dove in with their first few tasks…

1. They started by navigating the process of acquiring permits from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (who owns much of the land), and securing the necessary insurance for the event.

2. With other established races happening in town that same weekend, they had to find creative ways to promote the event, mostly online. Drew also designed a free hat for the first 25 runners to sign up. They set up social pages and accounts, and continued to try and get the word out organically.

3. They sought sponsorships to help offset the cost of the event for participants. Unfortunately, most of the bigger brands already had their sponsorship money allocated for the year or were hesitant to invest in a first time event. Despite the void in available sponsorships, Starbucks donated coffee and Hoka donated some gear.

By race day, 43 runners had signed up.

And all of Drew’s family - his parents and younger sisters - agreed to volunteer.

Race day came…and…

Unfortunately, no one was in the mood to drink the coffee they were handing out because it was the hottest day of summer thus far. And…Drew and his partner thought they had the 10K route marked well with flags the day prior, and even stationed a couple of volunteers at key intersections - but some runners still took wrong turns and had to backtrack. It was hard to ignore these elements of the day that felt a bit sour.

In the end, when Drew saw the first place runner approach the finish line, he felt a wave of relief. Not all was lost! The top runner finished the techy, single track course in just under 45 minutes. And they celebrated this finish in more ways than one.

After all the runners crossed the finish line, from ages 14 to 63, Drew relished in seeing how satisfied they were with the race and having the chance to explore new trails. Plus, he and his partner were excited to hand out some nice prize money for the top 3 finishers for the men and women - a common practice for European races but not yet here in the U.S. Facilitating the race was a tremendous amount of work for Drew and his partner, and they are not sure if they will do another one, but are grateful to have organized an experience that brought a lot of fun and enjoyment to others!

In the end, isn’t that what it’s all about?

Mother & Son - A Perfect DH Race Duo

Kristin and Ben post ride. All smiles, even if you can’t see Ben’s behind his helmet.

Team Routes staff member, Ben Goodman, and his mom both competed in the Angel Fire Downhill Mountain Bike Race this past June in New Mexico. It was the first time they’d ever raced together like this…and they loved it.

Ben originally learned of the race through a post on Instagram from the organizers - Downhill Rockies. He signed up in preparation for this summer’s downhill Nationals at Winter Park. Gravity racing has been a passion for him for the last few years.

Ben’s mom, Kristin, is getting back into racing after a 20 year hiatus. Before having Ben and his older brother, she did Ironman triathlons and XC mountain bike races. Her passion started to rekindle as she watched her son dive into multiple MTB racing disciplines.

Kristin, a high school science teacher herself, now has Ben, a Palmer Ridge High School student, as her teacher on the DH tracks. He has become her coach and instructor and shows her what lines to ride and how to execute a clean DH run.

Ben loved Angel Fire and the race because the cat 1 track was super fast, with some chunky tech, jumps, and deep drops. Overall, he was very pleased with his time. He enjoyed the atmosphere as folks were extremely laid back and really liked to have fun. 

Ben airing it out on his race run.

Kristin enjoyed her experience at Angel Fire as well - even though she had to take one of Ben’s buddies to the hospital for a broken collarbone.

You know? It happens.

She raced on the cat 2 track and was very happy she didn’t fall. She appreciated that the race was well organized and that the riders were highly supportive of each other. 

Ben and Kristin camped with a few other families nearby in a parking lot designated for camping. The two shared the area with a few other Team Routes staffers as well, including the owner who was there racing with his son. The weather was in the 80s and 90s and pretty dry - in part because of recent fires nearby. And despite the lack of moisture to wet the terrain, it was an epic time on the mountain racing for all.

On the 4 hour drive back home to Colorado Springs, they agreed they would definitely do this race again. 

Helping Her Peers Get Outside...

A brief spotlight on Routes Experience Associate - Hannah Brothers.

Hannah, left, and two students from The Lewis Palmer High School Outdoor Club

Hannah Brothers joined the Routes staff in Spring of 2022. She had known a few of the folks at Routes through her years of riding and racing in the youth cycling scene in Colorado Springs. She’s simply an awesome person, killer rider, and super kind spirit.

Hannah absolutely loves being outdoors, and has been an influence in the outdoor industry as well! Her general love for the outdoors has grown over the years from her experience as a Girl Scout since kindergarten.

Entering her senior year of high school in Fall of ‘21, she was well on her way to completing the Girl Scouts’ highest award - the Gold Award. This award is for those who seek to tangibly address a community need both locally and beyond.

Since she had a long history of, and passion for, being in the mountains - she decided to start the Lewis Palmer High School Outdoor Club back in the Spring of ‘21. She realized a lot of her classmates didn’t have many of the opportunities to get outside and connect with nature the same way she had - even in Colorado. In many ways it seemed to her that they had no one to help them. This chance to help her peers in something she loved became the foundation for her project.

Hannah secured free cross country ski rentals for The Club.

Over the course of her senior year, Hannah led the Outdoor Club on hikes around Monument’s most popular mountainous areas. Mt. Herman and Palmer Reservoir were a couple of favorites. She also organized days for geocaching and hammocking, brought in guest speakers to share about hiking all of Colorado’s 14ers, avalanche safety, map and compass skills, and cross country skiing. These were all incredible and diverse opportunities.

She designed the club to be accessible with no fees and did her best to ensure the events were doable for beginners. On top of it all, Hannah even wrote a handbook to pass down to the next generation of students leading The Club.

This awesome effort eventually did land her the award…and it was well deserved.

What an accomplishment! And what an awesome privilege to have her on the Routes team.

This Fall, Hannah is a freshman at CU - Boulder, studying Aerospace Engineering and doing Air Force ROTC. While she’s not around the shop these days…we can’t wait to have her back during breaks.

We’re impressed by all Hannah has done in her young life so far. We anticipate she’ll continue to do great things in the lives of others and in her community for many years to come too!

Hannah’s pins and patches.

One Last Ride With Bob

By Nate Van Noord (RO Staff)

When I first moved to Colorado Springs in the summer of 2021, I met Bob at church. Bob is 65, a retired police officer, and a daily bike rider - mountain, gravel, or road. I told him I just bought a mountain bike and he offered to take me on a ride. I failed to mention I had yet to ride my new bike or I had yet to ride any mountain bike. 

The next morning, I met him at the Falcon Trail on the Air Force Academy. When I stepped out of the car, it was already hot. Bob said it would be 13 miles plus a few extra he was gonna add. I thought no problem - I had ridden that far on my road bike in Detroit many times. Once we got on the trail, though, I realized I was gonna have to hang on for dear life. Bob was flying down the descents and easily navigating through all these rocks - big and small. A mile into the ride I went over my handlebars and scraped up my hands and arms. I had no gloves, so Bob had me wash my arms off in the stream, and gave me some toilet paper to wrap my hands in.  

Two and half hours later, when we finally got back to our cars, Bob still looked fresh and was heading to a church meeting. I was ready to go home and not leave my couch for the next two days.  

Bob was gracious enough to take me on many more rides over the next year - around Colorado Springs and even up to Breckenridge. But in the Spring of 2022, after 23 years of living in COS, Bob and his wife decided to move back to Florida to be closer to family. So Bob and I decided to get in one last ride. 

I met Bob at the Sante Fe Trail at the Woodmen Exit with the new Revel Rover on my rack. These gravel bikes had recently arrived as demo rentals at Routes. They looked smooth and sleek, and I was eager to try one. The bike was so light, and the 11 speeds were plenty going against or with the wind. The XL frame fit me perfectly and 27.5 inch tires kept me moving quick. This time, I had no problem keeping up with Bob. We rode up to the Routes shop in downtown Monument, said what's up to the guys, and turned around. We cruised back to our cars and it felt like I was just gliding on the Rover - I almost forgot I was on a bike.

I’m gonna miss riding with Bob. But while he is in Florida, I will have plenty of time to work on my game. When he comes back to visit, hopefully I’ll be able to keep up with him on the mountain bike. Or, maybe I’ll just get a Revel Rover.

How to Deal with an IT Band Issue

By Dr. Scott Runyon (owner of Backcountry Therapy and part of Trailblazers Running Group)

Dr. Scott enjoys running, climbing, and fishing and is willing to try most any mountain activity. He also likes playing and watching most any team sport.

Time and time again it happens. A few miles into your run and an ache starts around the hip. This is accompanied by a sharp pain on the outside of your knee. Sometimes it’s better, other times it’s worse, but it is consistently limiting how much you run. You’ve stretched. You’ve iced. You’ve put creams on it. Nothing seems to be helping much. It’s incredibly frustrating, and you can’t find an answer.

This scenario describes a condition called Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome. The IT band is a thick, dense tissue on the outer part of the thigh between the hip and the knee. Many are familiar with the term, but few know what it actually means! However, “stretching” the IT band isn’t an option. It is way too sturdy and dense to be stretched.

The 1st remedy in helping with IT Band Syndrome is to target the Tensor Fascia Latae (TFL). It is the muscle connected to the IT band and can be pretty sore and tight as well. Find the TFL on the side/front of the hip and roll it out with a tennis or lacrosse ball.

Dr. Scott and his wife, Heather, pictured near Aspen, enjoy hiking, skiing, and whitewater sports together.

The 2nd remedy is to take a look at your running mechanics, which can lead to irritation and inflammation of the IT Band. See how your knees are when you squat, especially on one leg. If your knees dip in toward the middle, then work on your glutes, especially a muscle on the side called the gluteus medius. This will help strengthen the hips!

The 3rd remedy in helping with IT Band Syndrome is to add stability work to your routine. Working on pistol squats, one-legged balance, and single leg bridges (just to name a few familiar options) will greatly increase the muscles around the IT Band and keep it from being pulled and over stressed.

Watch out for the symptoms we talked about and feel free to use these techniques to help keep yourself healthy and running at your best!

The Essentials with MTB Stacy

By Nate Van Noord (RO Staff)

A personal experience with a local legend - Stacy Gery.

Stacy Gery, getting ready to lead her class.

When I moved from Detroit to Colorado Springs in 2021, I hung up my daily commuter and bought a mountain bike. I was surprised how different the mountain biking skill set is with navigating roots, rocks, switchbacks, and descents. I’ve had a blast exploring all the trails around town, but like learning any new sport, I realized I have a lot to learn.

So, I signed up for a class with Stacy Gery of MTB with Stacy. Stacy, a former high school Spanish teacher, has taught mountain biking - and piano - for many years. She moved to Colorado from Pennsylvania 12 years ago - after spending a couple years in Bolivia for her graduate degree. A woman of adventure, she has hiked the whole Appalachian Trail and Colorado Trail (the CT was her favorite!).   

Luis, on the left, demonstrating while Baron explains.

I signed up for MTB Stacy’s ‘essentials’ class held at Eagleview Middle School, next to Ute Valley Park. When I arrived, I met two of her instructors, Baron and Luis. Baron, a former student of Stacy, was a highly competitive rider for years. Luis interned with Stacy originally as part of his college degree and now works as a technician at a local bike shop as well.

They, along with Stacy, led the class of 7 other students in a round of introductions to start the class. Most folks were in a similar boat as me having picked up the sport recently. After intros, they showed us what to check on our bikes before riding and recommended specific gear like pedals, pads, and shorts. Once we got through the preliminary stuff, we proceeded over to a grassy area where the instructors explained, demonstrated, and then coached us through a variety of skills like proper riding positions, braking, and cornering. As a former schoolteacher myself, I can attest that they did an excellent job of both explaining and demonstrating each skill. They weren’t hesitant to correct our form but did it in a tactful way that helped us learn the skills.

Working on keeping eyes up and looking through the turn…

Once the session was finished, I struck up conversation with a few other participants.

Karl and Dalene, both 63, were very fun to meet. Karl is picking up the sport after many years away and had encouraged Dalene a couple years ago to pick it up for the first time. They thought the class was great and regret having not taken it sooner.

I met Bekah too - who is also from Michigan! She was inspired to start riding after moving to Colorado a year ago. She is a software engineer, in her mid 20s, and learned about Stacy through a Facebook page of women riding in COS. She learned a lot about cornering - like keeping her eyes up and looking through the turn. Bekah’s looking forward to taking a ‘rock’ class from Stacy next, but wants to apply all the skills from the ‘essentials’ class first.

Similar to Bekah, I’m excited to get out there and practice everything I learned with MTB Stacy! This is a great way to dive deeper into mountain biking. I couldn’t encourage a better route than to engage one of her sessions. You won’t regret it.

Check out MTB Stacy’s website below.

MTB WITH STACY - Home

THE INCLINE: FROM 600 to 6,000 FT.

By Nate Van Noord (RO staff)

Aaron, my former housemate from Detroit, came to visit last summer - his first time to Colorado. He was in the midst of training for his first marathon, the Detroit Marathon, and was hoping to continue his training while here. I warned him, though, that Detroit’s elevation above sea level is 600 feet and Colorado Springs 6,000. He said he couldn’t wait.

So, before he arrived, I sent him a list of potential spots and he picked a run at the Garden of the Gods and hiking the Incline. Our Garden run wound through the park, gave him some views, and ended at Siamese Twins.

The next afternoon, after he finished his virtual work meetings, we headed to The Incline in 90-degree heat. On the shuttle bus to the start, I mentioned a little bit about the history of The Incline. It was originally a railway for about 80 years until 1990 when a rockslide washed out the railbed and the Cog Railway decided not to repair the tracks. It then became a fitness trail that attracts folks from all over the country, if not the world, for its 45% grade and 2,000 feet in elevation gain.

I also mentioned a few people have ascended over 1,000 times in a year and the fastest time to the top of the 2,700 steps is under 17 minutes. With the heat, he assured me, he was just trying to finish this bad boy. 

There were surprisingly a handful of others on the trail surviving the heat with us. Halfway up, we took a break for a couple minutes.     

After soaking in the view, we kept on trucking and made sure to walk in the bits of shade on the edges of each step. We passed a woman six months pregnant, a dad and 8-year-old son, and a couple in their 70s.

We made it to the top in 34 minutes - not bad for a couple flatlanders.

After taking the Barr Trail back down, we headed to Yellow Mountain Tea Shop in Old Colorado City for a little cool down. 

Three months later, Aaron finished the Detroit Marathon in 3:31 - and this Spring a half marathon in 1:31.

FINDING A PASSION: FROM HATING TO LOVING RUNNING

By Jamison Brandenburg (Friend of Routes and part of Trailblazers Running Group)

As a kid I abhorred any activity that included cardio. I played baseball from the coach pitch level all the way up until my freshman year in high school, and as anyone familiar with the sport knows, it requires a minimal amount of running. Whenever we had to run during practice, I always referred to it as the ”devil’s exercise” (maybe being just a tad dramatic). 

During high school I got heavily involved in band, another activity that doesn’t require a high level of physical fitness but kept me active. Now I wasn’t a lazy kid growing up. I loved being outdoors hiking, backpacking, fishing, and disc golf. But still no high intensity cardio.

Flash forward to my junior year of college and meeting Emily, my partner. Emily grew up with an active family, her dad walked onto the track team at Texas Tech and she ran cross country in high school. After falling out of running regularly Emily and one of her close friends decided to train for the Niagara Marathon in New York. 

To avoid the Texas summer heat Emily would run during the evening in the small town we lived in. I didn’t love the idea of her running alone at night, so I’d go with her kicking and screaming the entire way. “I hate this”. “This is stupid”. “Why are we even out here”. These were all common phrases I uttered on our runs together. Emily was a great sport and tolerated me for the most part. 

During the spring of 2020 I landed a job based out of Woodland Park, Colorado, just northwest of Colorado Springs. I had embraced running as an exercise that allowed me to eat whatever I wanted and maintain a fairly healthy weight. Knowing that I needed some encouragement to continue running once I moved up to Colorado, I signed up for a race called the Pikes Peak Ascent, not fully grasping what I signed up for. 

I soon started running on trails and quickly came to realize that trail running was basically hiking but faster, and I already loved hiking. Things started clicking for me and soon a local trail runner out of Woodland Park reached out via Strava and we became friends. Through Rachel, my new trail running friend, I met a whole community of like-minded people who enjoyed spending time outside just as much as I did. 

All of a sudden running became more than just a way to eat whatever I wanted. Trail running became community, friends, belonging, and acceptance. Trail running became a way for me to explore my new backyard and spend even more time outside. Trail running became a way to test new limits, challenge myself mentally and physically, and spend time with people I love.

RACING THE ROYAL GORGE

Cy Knowles joined Routes staff in the summer of 2021, and will be a Junior at Palmer Ridge High School this Fall. He moved here from Minnesota a couple years ago where he did his first downhill mountain bike race in 7th grade. This was only the beginning of Cy’s love for MTB and racing.

Cy Knowles and Ethan Werschky on top of the podium! And to be clear…the other podium finishers didn’t stick around to claim their spots. Ha! So they did in fact win in a field of other riders within their division.

Cy recently completed The Royal Gorge Groove - an XC mountain bike race. Despite the very windy conditions and 1,700 feet in elevation gain, he and his relay-mate, Ethan Werschky, took first place in the U18 division. (Ethan also just started working at Routes!)

It took the pair just over three hours to complete the 24-mile course. 

Cy had only hiked in the Royal Gorge prior to this race. After biking it, he said he would, “100% do this race again”. His general sentiment? It wasn’t too “techy”, the atmosphere & vibe was great, and the views were simply amazing. To boot, he enjoyed a post-race burger at Happy Endings Caboose Cafe in Canon City.

He did this race as a warmup for his XC season, and also plans on doing the Revolution Enduro Race in Snowmass at the end of the summer.

We love having Cy on staff at Routes! He’s growing his skills as a bike mechanic like crazy, and he continues to bring the kind spirit we value to both the community and his fellow staff.

If you see Cy at the shop, on the trails around town, or getting a post ride burrito at El Rincon, be sure to say “what’s up”!

KIDS ON BIKES - CREATING COMMUNITY THROUGH CYCLING

By Nate Van Noord (RO Staff)

Back in Detroit, where I moved from in the summer of 2021, there is an organization, Back Alley Bikes, that gives kids the opportunity to work on bikes and eventually earn a bike. They empower kids to get on the road for fun and for transportation. They have been very influential in changing the transportation culture of Detroit beyond being just the “Motor City”. 

When I moved there in 2006, there was one bike shop in the whole city. When I left, there were seven. That same year, I rode in a Critical Mass bike ride event…and there were seven of us total. Now, Critical Mass ride events in Detroit regularly have over 10,000 riders.

After moving to Colorado Springs, I immediately was struck by our access to the trails around town and was hyped to see all the folks out there riding for recreation. I was disappointed though, to see so few peeps riding the roads for transportation. 

Where were the bikes carrying commuters each day on our city streets? Where were the kids cruising across town to their friends’ houses? Where was the population that carried a mindset and torch…to promote alternate forms of transportation as a great and positive community dimension?

Fast forward about a year later, a community influencer named Mark Schenberger stopped by our south COS Routes location one day to visit with me, and I was encouraged to hear that he and all the good people over at Kids on Bikes are trying to change that.

Mark rode his Surly over to Routes from the Kids on Bikes office a few miles away. He recently rode this same bike solo from Denmark to Turkey for four months.

Mark first shared a little bit about his story.

He attended The Ohio State University (Go Wolverines!) and studied abroad in Copenhagen - the mecca of bicycle commuting (where you see businessmen riding to work in suits and moms dropping their kids off for school on cargo bikes). His time in Europe inspired him to contribute to the growing movement of alternative forms of transportation back in the States. After graduating, he took an Americorps position at Kids on Bikes.

Mark explained that Kids on Bikes started in 2005 and originally gave bikes away to kids who reached academic goals. They soon realized they wanted to do more….  

Through the years, they have provided opportunities for hundreds of kids to learn the fundamentals of operating a bike, everything from which side of the road to ride on to fixing a flat, and eventually giving them the chance of earning their own bike. Once they do, they help the kids pick a safe route in their neighborhood to ride and they ride it with them. 

They also set up bicycle libraries in different neighborhoods around town. Kids and adults in the community can access the tools inside these shipping containers for free.

In addition to all of that…they organize rides to school! How cool is that! A couple weeks ago, they had three different rides of 30-40 kids and their parents pedaling to three different elementary schools. They were even led by a 3-time Paralympian, Tyler Carter.

In 2016, Kids on Bikes launched a very cool new part of their organization - the Pedal Station. They have been operating the Pedal Station as an integral part of their strategies for long term sustainability since then. The Station operates as a bicycling community center and sells used bicycles to fit any budget through its retail store. They also offer a wide assortment of new and used parts and accessories. They accept bikes for donations and folks can volunteer as well!

Organizing family bicycle rides called “PopCycle Rides” is yet another very cool angle of what they do. These rides are on Sundays from 1-3 at America the Beautiful Park throughout the summer. They are a great way to celebrate bicycling cross-generationally, and give families really fun and easy activities to engage in together.

This summer, they will host their annual “Great Bicycle Carnival” and their weekly camps with hundreds of kids attending throughout the warm months.

One last notable activity to mention for this great organization - Kids on Bikes is in the midst of building the Cresta Pump Track at Cresta Open Space. They are hoping to complete it by summer of 2022. It will be a learning opportunity space to build skills for riding the Cheyenne Canyon trails nearby.

This organization does so much!! And they do it with lots of support from the communities around them.

The mission of Kids on Bikes is to empower kids to live healthy, active, and happy lives. They are doing just that…as they bring joy and freedom to kids and families in our community one bike, one ride, and one mile at a time.

If you would like to support all the great work Kids on Bikes is doing, check out a few of their website pages for volunteer and giving opportunities below.

Learn more about Kids on Bikes!

Volunteer with KOB and the Pedal Station!

Donate to Cresta Pump Track!

Join the Kids on Bikes Newsletter!

KOB on Social: Facebook and Instagram

RACING, VOLUNTEERING, AND FINDING COMMUNITY

A fun personal story from a friend of Routes and local community member…

Moving to a new state amid a global pandemic was not ideal. Leaving my family and friends to pursue this new adventure with my boyfriend of two years was already a leap out of my comfort zone that I didn’t think I was entirely ready for…or capable of. That I arrived as Colorado shut down and mandated masks didn’t help. Soon, I secured a traveling job that put me at risk of infection and kept me from exploring my new home. Then I received an email that crushed me.

“It is with deep regret that we must cancel the full marathon and relay for this year….” 

madmooseevents.com

I had been training for a year to do the Niagara Falls International Marathon with my best friend…and having to take the deferral to 2021 felt like all the work I’d done didn’t count. It seemed like life was dumping disappoints on me, and I needed a positive goal to focus on. I registered for the Valkyrie Trail Marathon in Cheyenne Mountain State Park to give me something to work towards ⎯ a challenge to distract me from how left out I felt as all my friends’ lives moved on without me.  

Months passed and I couldn’t shake this feeling of being utterly untethered. There would be pops of color when friends and family came to visit and then it would all dull back to the same gray of my everyday life. I ran to keep myself from admitting that it felt like I had made a mistake. I couldn’t understand how I could be so torn between such a beautiful state, holding the possibly of the life I always saw myself living and still wanting to move back to a state filled with humidity, mosquitoes and all my loved ones. I don’t know that I’d ever felt so lonely. 

September faded into winter and then spring, and the Saturday before my race I flew home from a work trip in Seattle. That Thursday my dad and sister flew in to spend the weekend with us and to cheer me on.

We hiked some of the course and at the Garden of the Gods and made tamales from scratch. A blink later, it was Saturday morning. My dad and sister left early for their morning volunteer shift, helping to set up the start/finish line and the aid stations.  

My boyfriend and I drove to the state park blasting Pusha T’s “Untouchable” on repeat. I felt recharged on the weekend’s positive energy and ready to go. My sister, dad and boyfriend were going to post up at the aid station I would pass four times throughout the race, and every time I saw them the whole table of volunteers erupted into cheers. It carried me through. 

madmooseevents.com

I finished my first trail marathon 24 minutes under my goal time while enduring some major stomach issues the last 5 miles. I was exhausted and so grateful for the whole experience. 

It wasn’t until we got back home late that afternoon that the true magic of the race unfolded ⎯ after forcing down lots of fluids, cooling down and reliving the race mile by mile for my family. 

My dad handed me a mask with a sharpied phone number and said, “I made you a friend. Here’s her number.” 

Little did I know, this was the turning point I had been needing. 

Another volunteer assigned to the table started chatting up my incredibly quiet dad, and today, she is one of my best friends. She helped me build a strong and supportive sense of community here in Colorado, and I have finally found where I fit. Within the running community here, I’ve found my people and everything that was missing.

SANTE FE OPEN SPACE

On Thursday, April 7th, El Paso County had its grand opening and ribbon cutting of Sante Fe Open Space in Palmer Lake - located on the east side of the New Santa Fe Regional Trail. It is a 60-acre site of rolling and moderate terrain with 1.75 miles of singletrack trail for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. The open space consists of thick stands of scrub oak, mature Ponderosa pines, grassy meadows, and the remnants of an old ranch. The county purchased this beautiful piece of land that boasts views of Mt. Herman and the Front Range in May of 2017. The west entrance is ½ mile SE of Palmer Lake Recreation Area, which offers both parking and a restroom, and the east entrance is 2.5 miles NW of the Hwy 105 Trailhead parking area. Both entrances are along the New Sante Fe Regional Trail. The county has built maps at each trailhead and signage at each trail intersection. The open space is open daily from dawn to dusk.

This trail system is simple, well thought out, and beautiful. Whether you’re headed out for a leisurely stroll, a long gravel bike ride from Baptist Rd. to Greenland Open Space, or a run from the front door of Routes Outfitter and back to Trails End Taproom…you are guaranteed to enjoy this new addition to our delightful trail systems in the Tri-Lakes areas.

It’s exciting to continue to see our area grow its offerings like this. The northern El Paso County area on the Colorado Springs front range is simply amazing.

A beautiful landscape surrounds the newest Santa Fe Open Space trail system built by El Paso County Parks and Rec.

From Snow to Sand to Ice

By Nate Van Noord (RO Staff)

Since moving to The Springs from Detroit last summer, I have been so enamored with all the trails around town to ride, run, and hike, that I have barely ventured out to the rest of CO. However, a few buddies recently invited me to go skiing, my first time since 9th grade. Back then, I did a few bunny hills at Mount Holly in Michigan - a former trash dump. 

So, a few weeks ago, we ventured to Keystone. On my first ride ever on a ski lift (the bunny hills at Mt. Holly had tow ropes) I fell down getting off and couldn’t get up. The lift operator rushed over to stand me back up.

After dusting off the snow, I made it down the bunny hill without falling. My buddies said I was ready for a green.

On the green, all these little 7 year olds whizzed by me without poles. Some were even tethered to their parents.

When it was time for lunch, I got down to the bottom of the run and my buddies were nowhere in sight. Left hanging, I had to ask a group of strangers to help me out of my skis.

All those 7 year olds and strangers on the mountain had me hyped though. Their enthusiasm for being outside and enjoying the mountain and snow was contagious. On my last couple runs, I took in the views and felt super grateful to be out there. 

I decided it was time to start exploring the rest of Colorado. 

…

On the drive back from Keystone, one of my skiing buddies, Joel, told me about The Great Sand Dunes National Park and said it was super beautiful. My other two skiing buddies in the car agreed - even though they had never been.

Wait, you fellas grew up in Colorado Springs, I thought. 800-foot sand dunes sandwiched between prairie and 13,000 peeks, only 3 hours away, and y’all never been!

Right before I was about to say something, though, I remembered there are big sand dunes on Lake Michigan, 3 hours from Detroit. I had never been either.

Joel agreed to go with me the next weekend. On the way to the dunes, we drove past the snowcapped Spanish peaks and through little towns like Walsenburg and Ft. Garland.

When we arrived, we picked up a map at the visitor center, and parked in the half full lot. 

We followed a small stream of folks heading up to Star Dune, the highest dune in North America. The recent snow, now only in sporadic patches, compacted the sand. We walked barefoot and the sand was cool, not blazing like in the summer. We passed a few kids trying to sandboard or sandsled. After an hour of hiking, we summited Star Dune and had our lunch. We debated if there were any other places like this in the world. Maybe in the Himalayas, the Andes, or in the Southern California desert. Or maybe just in Star Wars. 

We kept walking, away from the crowd, trudging up steeper inclines and running down the declines. The dunes stretched for miles in every direction. After spending a few hours on the dunes, Joel and I agreed we needed to camp in the Park someday to do some star gazing. 

…

On the way back home we stopped at Zapata Falls, just a few miles outside the park. We hiked the half mile to see and touch the falls. They were frozen, but with a steady stream of water still rushing behind the ice. 

As we drove home, past the Spanish peaks, a deep sense of gratitude settled in. Gazing out the window and thinking about the dunes and falls, I thanked God for hooking His creation up and making it so phenomenal. As Joel told me about other spots around Colorado, I started daydreaming of all the new landscapes to explore next.

…

From Burnt Out To Trailblazing in Colorado Springs

By Nate Van Noord (RO Staff)

After living and teaching in inner-city Detroit for the last 14 years, I needed a break. I was burnt out and needed rest. I needed some extended time away to reflect on my years there and discern what was next.

My sister lived in The Springs, and when I would visit her in the summers, she would take me for a run through Garden of the Gods, do “The Incline” with me, or show me the trails around Cheyenne Canon. After each time visiting her, I always felt refreshed. 

Moving to The Springs seemed like a great spot to find some rejuvenation. 

So in the summer of 2021, I moved out to Colorado Springs, and realized that the city has A LOT of easily accessible trails. I bought a bike and explored Ute Valley. I ran up Stratton Open Space to Gold Camp Road. My sister bought me a pass to explore Cheyenne Mountain State Park. I had to pinch myself that I was living in Colorado - the mountain views, the little scrub trees and yucca plants, and ALL the sunny days. 

I moved to Colorado to explore its beautiful landscape, but I didn’t want to do it alone (after two knee surgeries, my sister plays pickleball now instead of running and biking). I wanted to be a part of the outdoor culture and meet like minded folks. 

After Googling ‘trail running groups’ in the area, I found Trailblazers at Trails End Taproom. The website said it was for bikers, runners, and hikers. On a Wednesday night, I showed up to the Old Colorado City location with my running shoes. After walking past about fifty mountain bikers, I saw a dozen other folks stretching, checking their watches, and chit chatting. The group’s run leader, Sarah, introduced herself and a few others in the circle. After a few minutes, we jogged from the Taproom over to the trailhead at Red Rocks Open Space. Since the group ran the same basic 4-5 mile route each week, some folks sped ahead, and after a mile or so, waited for the rest of the group to catch up. I met another guy from Michigan, a lady who ran ultramarathons, and a couple who play pickle ball.  

Trailblazers is a welcome group for many levels of running. No one gets left behind. Getting out on the trails is what matters most. Doing it together makes it that much more fun.

After the run, folks stuck around, had a drink, and ordered a pizza. I learned about other local trails to run, races people were training for, and what the Tuesday Trailblazers in Monument was like. After coming for a couple weeks, I exchanged numbers with the couple who play pickleball and we played doubles with my sister. Now we run together outside of Wednesday nights, explore local restaurants, and still get the occasional game of pickleball in. 

With the help of Trailblazers, I have found people to explore all the beauty of Colorado and to find rest and rejuvenation with a community of others.

Ready? Set? Hike!

Guest Authored By: Becky Giovagnoni

Despite the atypical gloomy, wet weather over Memorial Day, summer is indeed upon us. (And actually, given our history of summertime wildfires, we say, bring on the rain. We’ll take as much moisture as we can get, right Colorado?)

With the advent of summer and the easing of COVID restrictions finally, hiking is bound to be a popular pastime for Coloradans in 2021. In fact, a recent post in the Colorado Springs Indy by Bob Falcone, a.k.a. Hiking Bob, highlights 10 Essentials for Hiking. We’d like you to take a second, jump over to the post, and give a quick read. (Don’t worry … we’ll wait.)

Done?

Okay, cool. Now that local expert Hiking Bob has educated you on what you’ll need for a successful hiking experience, we want you to know ... we’ve got you covered. Routes Outfitter can set you up with all the things! 

Hiking Footwear

Whether you’re brand new to hiking or on a quest to bag all 54 fourteeners, we have the shoes you need. You’ll find a wide variety of styles and colors to choose from, everything from heavy duty hiking boots to lightweight trail running shoes. Brands include Altra, Lems, and Salomon. 

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate 

Not only is the Colorado air dry, it’s also high (as you may have heard.) At high altitudes, hydration is absolutely critical to keeping your physical performance at its peak and keeping altitude sickness at bay. From our Routes Outfitter branded stainless steel water bottle to a variety of hydration packs, we’ve got all your hydration needs covered.

Stay Dry

There’s a saying around here … If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change. This is not actually a joke. Whether it’s the cold, freezing rain found at the top of a fourteener or the warmer rain of the Colorado ritual of late summer afternoon thunderstorms, we have the perfect jacket for every hike. 

Protect Your Skin

At 6,000 feet, the air here is thin which means the sun is more intense. And with 300 days of sunshine, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get sun. Protect your skin from sun damage with our sun care products.

At Routes Outfitter, we are all about equipping you for the adventure. Visit one of our two stores in person to see all of our gear and prepare yourself for a summer full of outdoor fun.

Happy hiking!

Don’t Forget…and Look Forward

2020

Yup…another post about 2020.

It was a year many would like to forget…but we shouldn’t. Forgetting might not produce what we think it will produce.

Life comes with all sorts for challenges. If it didn’t, it might not take us to those “edge-places” where we refine into the best “us” possible. Individually or collectively…challenges can and often do make us better. They often make us better together.

2020 produced lots of good from the bad…

We opened an outdoor culture store. I mean…that’s cool. We persevered through the noise and made it through to the other side of 2020 as well. We got to touch the lives of people stepping out into adventure for the first time…or the hundredth time. We made new relationships with incredible people in the outdoor and bicycle industry. We put people on insanely cool rental bikes and introduced them to super sweet shoes, equipment, and gear. We did it all safely…and we did it with kindness and compassion. We loved every chance to brighten a person’s day. We loved brightening our community as much as we could…and were allowed to. We loved getting to open this store in 2020. And we love the idea of moving forward to all the good that will continue to come.

There are many other good things that we can reminisce upon as well.

Don’t forget.

As well …because of the challenges we faced together…there are many other good things we can look forward to.

Don’t forget.

Here’s to 2020…and to 2021. We’re on this adventure together…in the challenges and in the good.

Don’t forget...and look forward.

Running My Very First Mile

Remember in High School when they made us run a mile for Gym class? Well…that’s the way I remember it at least. I walked it. I received a passing score too because most human beings in their youth can walk a mile under 13ish minutes.

And…

That’s what I did…barely.

It wasn’t until I was in my early 30s that I actually got out and ran (and I do mean ran) a full mile. The first time, I did it in about 12 mins.

And…

It was awesome!!!

It was amazing to accomplish something that really was a thing I always wanted to do, but never applied or disciplined myself to do…or let myself do.

Because…

I had “exercise induced asthma”. It’s what the pediatrician said when I was young. He said it was why I became short winded when I ran.

And…

I chose to smoke cigarettes for so many years before my 30s…destroying my lungs and deteriorating my body with the poison.

And…

I didn’t think I had the time or the right stuff to do it right.

But…

When I ran that first mile ever…I moved beyond those things. And I let my body decide after my mind pushed it a bit farther than it was comfortable with.

And…

I ran more miles…and built longer distanced bases…and kept running for years after.

And…

I ended up participating in an Ironman 70.3 when I turned 40. It was brilliant. Not fast…but brilliant.

And…

That very first mile was the hurdle. It was the mental block I had to overcome to get farther. It was the thing that my mind had to say - “absolutely, without a doubt, I’m gonna frickin’ do it” - to.

And…

I think my first shoes only cost $25 dollars.

And…

I walked out my front door and ran around the neighborhood.

And…

It only took a mile.

And…

That mile was awesome. It was the mile I never ran…before running my first mile. There are many other first miles I hope I keep pressing forward to run as well. They’re worth it.

Hardest run I’ve ever done.

So grateful for the support to finish this one. Me in the center with friends on both sides.

"Here"...En Route.

Hi.

My name is Jason Mezey…and I launched and own Routes Outfitter (with my wife).

20+ years ago I thought I was going to be a punk-rock star. That route never panned out. I’m okay with that.

Every route from there has barely made sense. From High-School Dropout (I did eventually graduate) to Construction Tradesman…to Not-for-profit Ministry Marketing Leadership, it’s been an interesting journey.

Regardless, it’s been a journey that created the Route to “here”.

And where is “here”?

“Here” is simply the “next turn” or “next segment” on a Route that likely won’t end for quite a bit longer (I hope).

“Here” is gratitude for the wonky realness of every adventure before.

“Here” is recognition of people and circumstances that mattered in shaping me En Route.

“Here” is contentment in being a husband and father to amazing human beings.

“Here” is knowing God the Creator through Jesus, who IS deep, deep love and grace. (ask me about it sometime)

“Here” is celebration of wellness and outside…and activities that compel us to embark on even more Routes to find better or deeper versions of ourselves.

“Here“ is an idea that a store and business can be a part of community as a place for kindness, compassion, and really fun stuff.

“Here” is Routes Outfitter…the next segment that hopefully doesn’t “make sense”…but brings huge impact to everyone that it touches.

“Here” is where I am glad to be…En Route to all the great things to come. :)

Here we go…